Sightseeing
Right next door! There are several great hiking trails next to the Forest Service Office and picnic/campground area at the start of Cedar Creek Drive you passed on the way in. Or, if you keep driving west on Cedar Creek Drive it will dead end in a few miles into a parking area with three trail heads. T
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Cedar Creek Trails
Right next door! There are several great hiking trails next to the Forest Service Office and picnic/campground area at the start of Cedar Creek Drive you passed on the way in. Or, if you keep driving west on Cedar Creek Drive it will dead end in a few miles into a parking area with three trail heads. T
Swimming and family waterpark at this beautiful lake. Hiking and biking trails with beautiful views surround the lake.
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Grindstone Lake
501 Resort DrSwimming and family waterpark at this beautiful lake. Hiking and biking trails with beautiful views surround the lake.
About 17 miles from the cabin) – in the winter this is a ski area, and in the summer, it is open for hiking and you can get a ride on the gondola or one of the world’s longest ziplines. www.skiapache.com/summer
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Ski Apache
1286 Ski Run RoadAbout 17 miles from the cabin) – in the winter this is a ski area, and in the summer, it is open for hiking and you can get a ride on the gondola or one of the world’s longest ziplines. www.skiapache.com/summer
This resort and casino is a beautiful spot to visit and walk by the lake, rent a paddleboat, get ice cream or coffee in the lobby, sit in the comfy chairs and look at Sierra Blanca out of the enormous lobby window or on the deck, or grab a bite at one of their four restaurants. They also have a zipline, horseback riding, golf, special events, bike rentals, and concerts. See www.innofthemountiangods.com for more information and rates.
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Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino
287 Carrizo Canyon RdThis resort and casino is a beautiful spot to visit and walk by the lake, rent a paddleboat, get ice cream or coffee in the lobby, sit in the comfy chairs and look at Sierra Blanca out of the enormous lobby window or on the deck, or grab a bite at one of their four restaurants. They also have a zipline, horseback riding, golf, special events, bike rentals, and concerts. See www.innofthemountiangods.com for more information and rates.
This well-preserved old west town was the stomping grounds of Billy the Kid. There are several museums here now where you can learn about the history of the area, the Lincoln County War, and Billy the Kid and his crew. It’s nice to drive the loop from Ruidoso to Hondo, stopping at the Hurd Gallery described above, then turn left on Highway 380 to Old Lincoln and Capitan, then take Highway 48 back to Ruidoso. The views are beautiful.
Lincoln Historic Site
5This well-preserved old west town was the stomping grounds of Billy the Kid. There are several museums here now where you can learn about the history of the area, the Lincoln County War, and Billy the Kid and his crew. It’s nice to drive the loop from Ruidoso to Hondo, stopping at the Hurd Gallery described above, then turn left on Highway 380 to Old Lincoln and Capitan, then take Highway 48 back to Ruidoso. The views are beautiful.
A beautiful mountain drive is NM Highway 244 between Ruidoso and Cloudcroft. It takes about an hour to drive one way and you will most likely see several wild horses, hawks and eagles, and maybe elk and a wild turkey or two. We like to eat at the restaurant or bar in the Lodge Hotel in Cloudcroft (901 Corona Place) before we make the return journey back to Ruidoso. The restaurant side is a little expensive, but has a fantastic view of the Tularosa Basin and the mountains beyond. You can also choose to sit in the more budget-friendly bar area, which has fantastic specials on steak on Wednesday nights.
New Mexico 244
New Mexico 244A beautiful mountain drive is NM Highway 244 between Ruidoso and Cloudcroft. It takes about an hour to drive one way and you will most likely see several wild horses, hawks and eagles, and maybe elk and a wild turkey or two. We like to eat at the restaurant or bar in the Lodge Hotel in Cloudcroft (901 Corona Place) before we make the return journey back to Ruidoso. The restaurant side is a little expensive, but has a fantastic view of the Tularosa Basin and the mountains beyond. You can also choose to sit in the more budget-friendly bar area, which has fantastic specials on steak on Wednesday nights.
We like this place so much we named a room in the cabin after it! This place is amazing – white sand dunes as far as the eye can see with a backdrop of beautiful mountains on two sides. There is a visitor’s center/museum, gift shop, several trails of varying difficulty through the dunes, guided tours and presentations, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms. You can rent or buy a plastic sled to slide down the dunes at the gift shop. Our favorite time to go is in the evening before sunset on a full moon night when the park stays open late and you can explore the glowing, white dunes by the light of the extra-bright desert full moon. More information, hours, and schedules can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm
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White Sands National Monument
We like this place so much we named a room in the cabin after it! This place is amazing – white sand dunes as far as the eye can see with a backdrop of beautiful mountains on two sides. There is a visitor’s center/museum, gift shop, several trails of varying difficulty through the dunes, guided tours and presentations, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms. You can rent or buy a plastic sled to slide down the dunes at the gift shop. Our favorite time to go is in the evening before sunset on a full moon night when the park stays open late and you can explore the glowing, white dunes by the light of the extra-bright desert full moon. More information, hours, and schedules can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm
Stuff to do with Kids
This is a favorite of our kids. There is miniature golf, go-carts, a maze, and bumper boats. See www.funtrackers-ruidoso.net for hours and prices.
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Pillow's Funtrackers
101 Carrizo Canyon RdThis is a favorite of our kids. There is miniature golf, go-carts, a maze, and bumper boats. See www.funtrackers-ruidoso.net for hours and prices.
Tons of indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family, including mazes, bumper cars, rock wall, batting cages, ropes course, ice skating, and arcade games. See www.adventuremountainnm.com for hours and prices.
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Adventure Mountain
1056 Mechem DrTons of indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family, including mazes, bumper cars, rock wall, batting cages, ropes course, ice skating, and arcade games. See www.adventuremountainnm.com for hours and prices.
Our kids call this this “Magical Park.” It has a playground that is a labyrinth of steps, walkways and slides arranged to look like a castle that kids of all ages like to explore. There are soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts here too for older kids and adults. There is also a great walking path that goes around “The Links” golf course which has beautiful views.
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White Mountain Recreation Complex
687 Hull RdOur kids call this this “Magical Park.” It has a playground that is a labyrinth of steps, walkways and slides arranged to look like a castle that kids of all ages like to explore. There are soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts here too for older kids and adults. There is also a great walking path that goes around “The Links” golf course which has beautiful views.
The Ruidoso municipal pool is open during the summer months. The pool is very clean and has a big waterslide and rock wall. It’s $4 per person to swim and $8 to swim and slide. See www.ruidosoparksandrec.com for hours.
Ruidoso Swimming Pool
515 Sudderth DrThe Ruidoso municipal pool is open during the summer months. The pool is very clean and has a big waterslide and rock wall. It’s $4 per person to swim and $8 to swim and slide. See www.ruidosoparksandrec.com for hours.
Reasonably priced fun and food for the whole family. See www.ruidosobowlingcenter.com for hours and pricing.
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Ruidoso Bowling Center
1202 Mechem DrReasonably priced fun and food for the whole family. See www.ruidosobowlingcenter.com for hours and pricing.
Smokey Bear Museum
102 Smokey Bear BlvdArt
This is the former ranch home of artists Peter Hurd and Henriette Wyeth that is now a lovely gallery displaying their art as well as that of N.C. and Andrew Wyeth, and Michael Hurd (current owner and Peter and Henriette’s son). There are several famous originals on display as well as a shop where you can purchase prints and cards. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and Michael Hurd is often there as well. The setting and the drive there are as beautiful as the art inside. www.wyethartists.com
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Hurd La Rinconada Gallery, Guest Homes, Wine Tasting Room & Sentinel Ranch
105 la RinconadaThis is the former ranch home of artists Peter Hurd and Henriette Wyeth that is now a lovely gallery displaying their art as well as that of N.C. and Andrew Wyeth, and Michael Hurd (current owner and Peter and Henriette’s son). There are several famous originals on display as well as a shop where you can purchase prints and cards. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and Michael Hurd is often there as well. The setting and the drive there are as beautiful as the art inside. www.wyethartists.com
Food scene
This is an old-west chuckwagon dinner and show in Alto, NM open during the summer season. It starts in the afternoon with kid-friendly activities like target practice, horseback riding, and shopping in their little old west town, followed by an old-west shootout. Then they serve an authentic chuckwagon BBQ dinner (it’s darn tasty) and serenade you with old western songs as well as some original western music. Reservations are recommended. See www.flyingjranch.com for more information.
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Flying J Ranch
1028 NM-48This is an old-west chuckwagon dinner and show in Alto, NM open during the summer season. It starts in the afternoon with kid-friendly activities like target practice, horseback riding, and shopping in their little old west town, followed by an old-west shootout. Then they serve an authentic chuckwagon BBQ dinner (it’s darn tasty) and serenade you with old western songs as well as some original western music. Reservations are recommended. See www.flyingjranch.com for more information.
This is a counter service café and coffee shop. We like to go here for lunch and sit on the lovely, huge deck and listen to the Ruidoso River running next to the restaurant. They have some delicious deserts too, and most meals come with a cookie!
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Sacred Grounds Coffee and Tea House
2704 Sudderth DrThis is a counter service café and coffee shop. We like to go here for lunch and sit on the lovely, huge deck and listen to the Ruidoso River running next to the restaurant. They have some delicious deserts too, and most meals come with a cookie!
This is a gourmet burger place where most things come with green chile.
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Grill Caliente
2800 Sudderth DrThis is a gourmet burger place where most things come with green chile.
This Italian Restaurant is on the pricy side, but has a nice atmosphere and good food. Great date night place, but not so kid friendly.
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Michael J's Italian-American Restaurant
601 Mechem DrThis Italian Restaurant is on the pricy side, but has a nice atmosphere and good food. Great date night place, but not so kid friendly.
This is a family-friendly restaurant with great baked goods and coffee. They give kids a ball of dough and some cookie cutters to entertain themselves while waiting for the food to arrive.
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Cornerstone Bakery Cafe
1712 Sudderth DrThis is a family-friendly restaurant with great baked goods and coffee. They give kids a ball of dough and some cookie cutters to entertain themselves while waiting for the food to arrive.
Another family-friendly restaurant with down home cooking, and a good breakfast menu.
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Log Cabin Restaurant
1074 Mechem DrAnother family-friendly restaurant with down home cooking, and a good breakfast menu.
A local favorite for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This café serves good home-cooking, is family-friendly, and reasonably priced.
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Alto Cafe
810 County Rd 48A local favorite for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This café serves good home-cooking, is family-friendly, and reasonably priced.
Local New Mexico steak and seafood restaurant. Great soup and salad bar.
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Cattle Baron
657 Sudderth DrLocal New Mexico steak and seafood restaurant. Great soup and salad bar.
This family friendly restaurant and pub serves lunch and dinner and features pizza, burgers, and ribs. Their outdoor patio is nice for summer dining.
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Farley's Food Fun & Pub
1200 Mechem DrThis family friendly restaurant and pub serves lunch and dinner and features pizza, burgers, and ribs. Their outdoor patio is nice for summer dining.
This pizza café in midtown is a local favorite, and has a myriad of topping options not found at your typical pizza joint. Cash or check only and be prepared to wait for a table. You can also order out.
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Cafe Rio Pizza
2547 Sudderth DrThis pizza café in midtown is a local favorite, and has a myriad of topping options not found at your typical pizza joint. Cash or check only and be prepared to wait for a table. You can also order out.
This burger, fry, and brew joint has a nice patio with great service.
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Anaheim Jacks
1097 Mechem DrThis burger, fry, and brew joint has a nice patio with great service.
The wonderful restaurant is reasonably priced and usually very busy. It’s smart to get there earlier or later than the lunch or dinner rush hours.
We highly recommend the fired green chile strips, and the Oso tacos.
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oso grill
100 Lincoln AveThe wonderful restaurant is reasonably priced and usually very busy. It’s smart to get there earlier or later than the lunch or dinner rush hours.
We highly recommend the fired green chile strips, and the Oso tacos.